Sunday Local News for September 9

Published on September 9 2012 6:17 am
Last Updated on July 14 2013 12:07 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

The streets of Effingham will be busy this morning as the Heartland Half Marathon is getting underway, leaving just now from Effingham High School.

In addition to the half marathon, which measures 13.1 miles, there will be a 5k run/walk that travels out to the Cross at the Crossroads and then back to EHS. The half marathon course will extend through much of the city and will also return to the high school.

Heartland Dental Care is the primary sponsor of the race. Proceeds from the competition will benefit the Effingham Unit 40 Mentoring Program and Big Brothers Big Sisters. The event is organized by the Broken Arrow Road Runners.

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A fundraising effort for the Effingham County CEO class is scheduled this evening at Firefly Grill in Effingham. Cocktails at 6pm will be followed by dinner at 6:30pm The event is designed to help fund CEO internship scholarships, designed to provide real life working experience. When CEO grads successfully complete their work, they will be provided a $1,000 scholarship to help pay for their schooling.

A very limited number of tickets were available at last report. To check on ticket availability, phone Jennifer at 821-5956.

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The Effingham County Community Foundation has announced scholarship recipients from a variety of sources.

Anna Habing of Teutopolis, the daughter of Larry and Rita Habing, received the 2012 Delbert and Maradyl Facklem Scholarship.

$2,000 scholarships from the Ray, Mary and Tim Niebrugge Scholarship Fund went to Renee Breer, Dakota Esker, Lyndi Myers, Jamie Rexroat, and Molly Wallin of Teutopolis High School; Jennifer Garland, Suzy Parks, and Anna Percival of Effingham High School; Aaron Wall of St. Anthony High School; Gary Hendricks, Mark Hendricks, Bailey Hofmann, Lieren Schuette and David Seidel of Altamont High School; and Lena Miller of Beecher City High School.

Kennedy Brummerstedt received the Diane Siemer Scholarship of $2,500 after completing his GED exam successfully and announcing plans to attend Lake Land College.

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Illinois State Police conducted a Roadside Safety Check in Effingham at Keller Drive and Ford Avenue from late Saturday evening August 25 to early Sunday morning August 26.

21 citations or arrests were effected, as well as 18 written warnings. There were three registration offenses, 10 driver's license offenses, three DUI arrests and three other alcohol or drug arrests.

The effort is funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation's Division of Traffic Safety.

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The 2009 board of Helen Matthes Library in Effingham is the recipient of the 2012 Illinois Library Association Intellectual Freedom Award.

The award is given to an individual or group for outstanding contributions in defending or the advancement of intellectual freedom. The award is sponsored by Quality Books, Incorporated.

The 2009 library board unanimously decided to retain the book "Living Dead Girl" in response to a complaint by a Mattoon resident. The resident requested that the book be removed from the library because of its difficult subject matter and graphic depictions of child abuse. The library reviewed the complaint in accordance with their established policy. The Board indicated its sympathy for the feelings of the parent, but reiterated its responsibility to serve all of the residents and that the role of censoring children's reading is with the parents and not the library.

The Intellectual Freedom Award will be presented at the Illinois Library Association Annual Conference Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, October 9 at noon at the Civic Center in Peoria.

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The Knights of Columbus World Day of Prayer for Peace seeks to unite Knights, Catholics and all people of good will regardless of their religious faith in prayer for peace. While September 11 will always be remembered for the loss of life, Knights hope the somber occasion will be the foundation of an annual opportunity for a day of earnest prayer for peace in the world. to commemorate the tragedy with dignity and hope, the Supreme Council of the Knights passed a resolution in 2004 to observe September 11 as a day of prayer for peace. The Effingham Knights of Columbus Council #665 will be hosting a rosary for world peace on the lawn of the old Courthouse in downtown Effingham today at 4:30pm in observance of the anniversary coming up on the 11th.

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A reminder of tomorrow's kickoff of ticket sales for the 2012 Taste of Home Cooking School at the Effingham Performance Center. The Cooking School will be held Friday evening, November 16 at 7pm at the EPC. Ticket sales will begin at 9am Monday at the EPC and the Morning Show crew will be there broadcasting live to promote the start of sales. Reserved seats are $15, preferred seating is $20 and VIP seating is $30. There will also be reserved parking spaces available for $5.

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Watson Baptist Church is celebrating their 117th Homecoming today. Special morning services at 10:30am will be followed by a potluck dinner with chicken provided by the church and then music featuring Darrell Durbin at 1pm. Evening services will be cancelled.

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A reminder that the Sigel St. Michael KC Tractor Pull has been postponed to Saturday, September 22 at 10am.

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The Effingham County Humane Society invites you to a Tapas Tasting this evening from 6 to 9pm at Tuscan Hills Winery. Tapas are described as small, often spicy appetizers typically served in the country of Spain. Live music will be provided by Marty Williamson and Heather Latta. To inquire about space for tonight's event, phone 343-1368. The cost is $25 per person.

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With the formation of a Columbian Squires Circle and the call for all volunteers, parents and parishioners to attend a Protecting God's Children Workshop, the Effingham Knights of Columbus will be hosting one of the workshops today at 5:30pm. It's open to everyone and especially to Brother Knights who will be working with Knights of Columbus Youth Programs or with the Columbian Squires. For those with children, a couple of Knights and their wives who have already gone through the workshop have volunteered to watch the children while their parents attend the workshop. There will be games for them to play, maybe a movie, snacks and drinks and they can also utilize the playground. Robin Westendorf of St. Anthony Parish will be the facilitator.